Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) – Rick Santorum said Friday he has felt a "palpable change" in his campaign in the past 48 hours and now feels that he's surging into South Carolina's primary on Saturday.

"Early in the week I was sort of getting the sense, you know things weren't quite going exactly with the kind of enthusiasm – it was good, but it wasn't feeling exactly like I wanted it to feel," Santorum said at the Citadel Republican Society’s annual Patriot Dinner.Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker

He added: "I didn't feel like we were surging. I felt like we were doing fine, but I didn't feel like we were surging."

Santorum said he now believes "the energy and the electricity" is right where he wants it to be, partly because of recent endorsements from local and national conservative leaders.

The former Pennsylvania senator maintained there are only three candidates left with a viable chance at winning the nomination - clearly implying that Ron Paul is not a serious candidate. He then reiterated a metaphor he made earlier in the day, comparing the race to the fairy tale about Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

"We've got one candidate who's just a little cool, just a little timid, not someone who is what we need," Santorum said, referring to Mitt Romney. "We've seen now for several years that this candidate just can't seem to pull that together, can't seem to click with Republicans beyond the fact that he has the most money and the most name recognition and the most organization."

Then he described another candidate who's "a little too hot," talking about Newt Gingrich.

"You have to be concerned about whether he has, not just – the ideas are plentiful, but do you have the discipline to go out and be steady, be that strong, confident, disciplined person who can execute, not create ideas but execute those ideas," Santorum said.

"Then you have someone who's just right," he said about himself. Stretching the metaphor even further, Santorum added that his now-famous sweater vest is a perfect embodiment of the type of candidate he is.

"If you were in the dance hall and you walked in and you're a young lady, you'd walk by the guy in the sweater vest. Right?" he said. "You're not looking for the guy in the sweater vest because he probably has a pocket protector, right? But he's the guy you can trust. He's the guy that at the end of the evening, when you've had your spins with 'Too Hot' and 'Too Cold' – Mom and Dad will like him just fine."

All the Republican presidential candidates were invited to speak at the event Friday night, but the former senator was the only one who attended.

After his remarks, Santorum was presented the Patriot Award by two Citadel Cadets. The award is a Revolutionary War style musket mounted on a plaque.

soundoff(12 Responses)

Louis Nardozi

Pat is utterly terrified Obama will have to run against Paul in the general election. Let's face it, those other three guys ARE Obama, with a little tinkering around the edges.

The only problem Paul has is marginalization and constant media attacks. This is perfectly understandable because papers and tv stations aren't owned by some guy now – they're owned by 6 giant corporations that control over 90% of the airwaves and big chunks of the internet. Look at the comments on any story – you'll see the Paul support there.

What if this is the last chance you'll have to prevent the collapse of the dollar? Our infrastructure can't function without oil and oil is denominated now in dollars. What happens when people stop accepting them? No oil means no diesel. No diesel means no trucking. No trucking means no FOOD – most supermarkets carry only 3 days' inventory. Let's say it only takes a couple months to find a new supply, what do you think will happen in a city with 10 million starving people, people who've never gone hungry a day in their lives? Armageddon.

January 20, 2012 11:25 pm at 11:25 pm |

morrorlogic

Santorum surging === downward! False facts during a National debate, validated through FACT CHECK does not send an upward surge. It shows why he lost by the largest margin of any U.S. Senator seeking re-election as an incumbent since 1980.

January 20, 2012 11:53 pm at 11:53 pm |

morrorlogic

Surges go in two directions, some up and some down. This one is down.

January 20, 2012 11:54 pm at 11:54 pm |

morrorlogic

These guys always hit the media releases and statements at the last moment, and like lap dogs the major media outlets pick them up. Romney sees a close one, neck and neck, Santorum sees a surge, Big G thinks he is leading...aghhh! Stop printing obvious campaign spin.

January 20, 2012 11:56 pm at 11:56 pm |

vote the Tea Party OUT in 2012

Come on pretty Ricky I would LOVE to see you go up against Obama in November.

January 21, 2012 01:08 am at 1:08 am |

MoeL

Santorum you can put that sweater vest where the sun doesn't shine, along with your religious BS. America needs to move forward, not back to the crusades. By the way, I think I am safe in saying the majority of women in this country have no desire in moving backwards. Perhaps you will get some left over neantheral votes, if it comes to a general election.

January 21, 2012 01:50 am at 1:50 am |

J Jones

The guy who is "not a serious candidate" got more votes than Santorum and Gingrich combined in the last state.

January 21, 2012 02:55 am at 2:55 am |

Bryan

We can't possibly have a president who wears sweater-vests everywhere.

January 21, 2012 03:21 am at 3:21 am |

Anonymous

"See a doctor for palpably surging Santorum lasting more than four hours."

January 21, 2012 07:44 am at 7:44 am |

sensible

Surging?....yeah, they are now letting the mental patients vote!

January 21, 2012 08:44 am at 8:44 am |

diridi

Surging, listen, he will send you to WAR, just like Bush the idiot, and drain your economy, and ban your Social Security, Medicare, all the needed Entitlements of the nation, not raise the tax on rich who make more than 250k or more......watch out....God bless.

January 21, 2012 08:51 am at 8:51 am |

Scottish Mama

And if he is the president we will be colonist of the 1600's. We will be serf's.